PURCHASE. 
Forsyth in his work, " The Highlands of Central India," mentions 
that there is no end to the tricks carried out by dealers, of which 
he had some experience at the Sonpur Fair ; some he remarks on 
are man-killers reduced to temporary harmlessness by the daily 
administration of pills containing opium and Indian hemp, sores 
of the feet plugged, cracks " paid " with tow, and sore backs surface- 
healed. It is most important therefore that in examining a beast 
the utmost care should be exercised to see that the back and other 
parts liable to gall are free from sores, scars and tenderness ; in 
fact, the whole body must be inspected, the ears examined for sores 
and scabs, the ear holes for discharges, and the eyes must be free 
from dimness. 
The soles of the feet should be well tapped all over before and 
after exercise ; if any tenderness is manifested, the part must be 
thoroughly examined. Tender patches from excessive wear may 
readily be detected by the parts being smooth and pinkish in colour. 
The skin around the nails, as also the nails, must be inspected. 
Food and water should be presented to see that the trunk is quite 
sound, as this most important organ may have been injured by 
bamboos, spear wounds, da cuts, etc. 
Any individual idiosyncrasy which may exhibit itself, if bearing 
on the utility of the animal, should be taken into consideration. 
Some elephants are full of nasty tricks ; intending purchasers must 
therefore be on their guard, and endeavour to ascertain the pecu- 
liarities of any particular beast before taking possession. Most 
Burmese elephants prefer being approached from the right side ; 
very few from the left : some may be approached from right and 
left, and others only from the right or left. A new keeper 
unacquainted with such peculiarities incurs the likelihood of being 
attacked if the animal be bad-tempered, or of scaring him if of a 
nervous disposition. 
The following peculiarities in some animals reduce their value, 
as they are regarded with superstitious dread by the Burmese. It 
is thought that the ownership of such creatures may cost their 
masters loss of life or substance : — 
(1) A loose fold of skin, descending from the throat down to 
the fore-legs, known as pyazwe (9)3§^, resembling bees settling in 
a swarm). 
(2) Same as above, but the fold of skin is continued between 
the fore-legs on to the abdomen, called kaiaga (oo^co^^ood, like a 
purdah). 
(3) Moving the head up and down, and simultaneously from left 
to right, called moungdoung (gqd6§good£8, like the action of pounding 
rice in an ordinary Burmese rice mortar). 
